The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-10-18
SCIENTIFIC SQulBS.

A kind II ant In Honduras will prey upon
houses, and when once started will soon eat
one down.
White pepper frequently has undergone a
process Of bleaching by chlorine, which i'm
proves its color, but deteriorates the quality.
Men desiring 10 be agreeable remove the
odor Of tobacco. which remains after smok-
ing, by a solution OF thyrnol, used as mouth
wash.
For the past twenty years or more Mr..
Isaac Pitman, who Is still very hard worker
at the age OF nesrly IS years, has been Il
strict vegetarian a. well as a temperance
man.
A fine show Of chrysanthemums should
soon appear in the public grounds of Wash
ington, the superintendent having some
months ago planted 10000 plants for their
decoration the present autumn.
A journal devoted 10 mazography, a
science by which it is undertaken 10 deter
mine a persons character by the size aud
shape Of his nose Is sOOl 10 be published, il
its announcement from Paris Is credible
The pulse Of young woman has been
beating at the rate OF 1875 per minute for two
years past. in consequence Of a severe fright
from plaster falling upon her from the cell
ing and by which she was awakened
A hospital for animals is projected in Lon
don with free dispensaries in the poorer
quarters. where, besides treatment for suffer
ing animals, lectures can be given and
pamphlets distributed for public instruction.
The most novel complaint Of impure milk
reported is that Of the London boy boarded
out under the poor law regulation, who re-
ported that the milk given him out of town,
instead of being taken from cfean tins, had
been squeezed out of a nasty COW, aud he
"seoj em doing it,"
An oxford meteorologist seeks 10 prove
that the European and American magnetic
poles are c0imcident with the centers OF great
est cold for the two continents aud that the
shifting of the magnetic poles is duo to the
same series of astronomical and geological
causes which produce the secular changes in
climate
Al various magnetic obseryatores ON the
continent Of Europe slight disturbances We're
registered, which apparently were connected
in time with the late earthquakes NJ Mas
cart believes that more careful examination
OF toe records of different observations will
show the connection which may exist be
tween the two disturbances.
Al the San Servola Insane asylum, reached
bv gondola from Venice, very complete and
scientific histories Of cases are required and
recorded The skull Of every patient is ac-
cutately examined and measured, no less
than fifteen different measurements being
taken, according 10 the Italian craniometri-
cal system, and recorded in the history
All the fine flowers seen at exhibitions are
obtained by the plants being 'disbudded,n as
the method is technically known The expert
florist, instruct amateurs. who select special
kind, irom the cut dover tables that they
must not be- disappointed at finding them
half tine size when they flower unless they
pinch o0 all the buds but one ON each shoot
just as soon as the buds can be- seen
Paint is found better than calcimine OF
whitewash upon the walls OF a kitchen, since
the steam from the washing or cooking aas
less effect upon it, and also bece,:se il can be
more readily cleaned Before painting, the
nall needs b. be washed with soapsuds, then
covered with a coat OF dissolved glue. which
must Dee allowed 10 dry thoroughly before the
paint IS applied the work being done well
and quickly with broad. Hat brush
Screw that are too small for separate treat
uent may be cleaned as follows. Take one
pound of screws and place them in small
lIX-a Cd gar box will do put a small guam
f.iy of oiI ou them and shake Tor minute,
tlcu p,i piece of cotton waste in the box
aHd Ic,ctt for a minute; finally put a hand
tai ot sawdust in the box and shake Tor am
other minute on So and remove the sawdust /
hy sitting il from the screws in "A fine sieve /
lho screws will be found as good as new.
FROM all accounts of the silver snake OF /
Honduras 10 most resembles quicksilver in It's /
movement One traveller tells OF a specimen /
four inche, long and about the size of fence /
wire which it was impossible to hold when /
taken m the hands The statement is re- /
peated. which is said 20 be made on good au-
thority. that fowl often eat these snakes and |
shortly after can have the pleasure OF doing /
,O again, as in "a few moments one will wigge /
through the alimentary canal, and can per /
form the feat many times without firing